AP Television Hongu, Wakayama Prefecture, Japan - November 22nd, 2010 1. Pan left of Kii mountains 2. Close up of fern beside the Kumano Kodo pilgrimage route 3. Close up of wild flower beside the Kumano Kodo pilgrimage route 4. Wide of one of the main structures in Hongu Shrine, Hongu Town, Wakayama Prefecture (main destination on the pilgrimage route) 5. Various of a walking tour on the Kumano Kodo pilgrimage route 6. SOUNDBITE: (Japanese) Dr. Kinoshita Fujihisa, Director of Kumano Health Promotion & Relaxation Laboratory: "What we mean by "health tourism" in Japan is attempting to improve the health of tourists while they are on vacation." AP Television Ohara, Hongu Town, Wakayama Prefecture Japan - November 6th,2010 7. Young women on the final stages of a walking tour 8. Various of women on the tour stretching and performing relaxation exercises AP Television Hongu, Wakayama Prefecture, Japan - November 22nd, 2010 9. SOUNDBITE: (Japanese) Sugawa Aki, Guide and Therapist at Kumano Health Promotion & Relaxation Laboratory: "Stretching, performing yoga and relaxation exercises in "power spots" or spiritual places has a calming effect on participants. The numbers of young women participating in the tours recently has seen a big increase." AP Television Ohara, Hongu Town, Wakayama Prefecture - November 6th, 2010 10. Various of young women performing relaxation exercises 11. Pan left of exterior of the Kumano World Heritage Centre AP Television Hongu, Wakayama Prefecture, Japan - November 22nd, 2010 12. SOUNDBITE: (Japanese) Dr. Kinoshita Fujihisa, Director of Kumano Health Promotion & Relaxation Laboratory: "What we are thinking at the moment is that the walking route viewed simply as a tourist destination is fine. However, what we are attempting to develop is a form of health care for sufferers of metabolic syndrome, for example, that can be included within the national health insurance scheme." 13. Various of participants on a 7km (4.3 mile) walking tour having a health check prior to departure 14. SOUNDBITE: (Japanese) Sugawa Aki, Guide and Therapist at Kumano Health Promotion & Relaxation Laboratory: "This is a one day course. First participants take a health check before we take them to a starting point on the Kumano pilgrimage route. Stretching at regular intervals, the walking course also includes relaxation on our forest beds." 15. Sugawa Aki blows the Horagai before the walking tour begins on the Kumano Kodo Pilgrimage Route 16. Tour participants on the Kumano Pilgrimage Route 17. Close up feet moving over of tree roots that cross the path 18. Participants walking up a slope through the forest 19. Zoom in on the lunch box made from local ingredients given to participants 20. Participants stretching before the beginning of the afternoon session 21. SOUNDBITE: (Japanese) Dr. Kinoshita Fujihisa, Director of Kumano Health Promotion & Relaxation Laboratory: "Of course some people simply want to walk along the Kumano Kodo. Others, people with high blood pressure or diabetes for example, have to exercise for health reasons. What we are trying to do is to develop a programme in Kumano in which people can visit the area, walk and stay here while receiving education on diet and physical exercise." 22. Tilt down from trees to participants sleeping on the "forest beds" 23. Various of participants sleeping on forest beds 24. SOUNDBITE: (Japanese) Sugawa Aki, Guide and Therapist at Kumano Health Promotion & Relaxation Laboratory: "One of the most obvious changes to effect participants before and after the course is a change in blood pressure. This is one of the things that helps them recognise that walking and other forms of exercise are good for their health." LEAD IN: You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/cd6f3817ba75a80a8f5b251748b06985 Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork

• published: 30 Jul 2015
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